Chapter 49: This Time to Mount Hua. (3)

This time, to Mount Hua (3)

At the shocking words, I stood there blankly, holding the bolt of cloth.

Elder Lee, perhaps awkward at our reaction, explained the situation in a slightly softer voice than his usual boisterous tone.

“…Well, I received it in a drinking bet long ago, but I forgot to return it after sobering up…”

“….You wagered your sect’s Four Great Treasures as collateral?”

What kind of bullshit is this?

I wouldn’t even believe it if he said he stole it, but now he expects me to believe this? What kind of insane sect leader would bet their sect’s treasures on such a ridiculous wager!?

Then, Elder Lee added, clearing his throat.

“…As it matched the level, I wagered an item of similar caliber, so don’t feel too slighted.”

“…Slighted? What is there to be slighted about…?”

“Huh? They wagered the Four Great Treasures, and I felt slighted because I didn’t seem to wager anything comparable, didn’t I?”

“Seriously, what kind of crazy talk is that…”

Wait, he wagered something comparable to the Four Great Treasures? Did Elder Lee even have something like that…?

At this point, I started thinking he was just trying to mess with me.

‘Right, no matter what, could it really be the Four Great Treasures?’

Convinced Elder Lee was joking, I chuckled.

“Hey, no matter how lacking I might seem, you shouldn’t play jokes like this. That’s too much.”

Saying I wouldn’t fall for such tricks, I quickly unwrapped the cloth Elder Lee handed me…

Instantly, the scent of plum blossoms spread all around.

It was a fragrant and soft scent.

A strange energy I’d never felt before pulsed in my hand, and looking down, I saw a round stone emitting light.

Seeing that much, I immediately covered it back up.

‘…Shit. This looks real, no matter how I look at it?’

In this world, if a stone emitting light and fragrance isn’t a treasure, what else could it be?

“How can you wrap a treasure in such cheap cloth!”

“Hmph! The Sect Leader gave it to me like this, so why are you yelling at me!”

“No, who carries a treasure wrapped in this kind of cloth…?”

I’m going crazy, seriously.

How am I supposed to handle this…? Suddenly, I’m in a situation where I have to load a treasure onto a carriage and go all the way to Mount Hua.

I really never would have guessed that Mount Hua’s treasure would pop out of the Gu family’s place.

“…Why entrust something like this to me? You should have contacted a security company for safety.”

“There’s no safer place in the world than this, so don’t worry and just go.”

Safe? Wondering what that meant, I thought for a moment…

I recalled Geom-jon, who was stroking the horse nearby.

If Elder Lee, like my father, knew about Geom-jon’s existence, his words made some sense.

‘…But why entrust it to me?’

I thought my heart was going to drop the moment I saw it.

As I held the treasure with trembling hands, Elder Lee said with a smile.

“Ah, I’ve already discussed it with the Family Head, so don’t worry and just go.”

“So you already discussed everything without me…”

Why is it that discussions always happen without me?

It seemed like the treatment I received as the only son was quite poor.

Though it was poor from the start anyway….

Since discussions had already reached this point, I couldn’t refuse any further.

I carefully took the stone and put it in my pocket. I couldn’t just approach Geom-jon and ask him to hold this for me.

Fortunately, it was small enough that it didn’t seem noticeable.

As I secured the presumptuously valuable treasure, Mu-yeon approached and said.

“Young Master, preparations for departure are complete.”

“I’m coming now.”

As I headed towards the carriage, Elder Lee stopped me for a moment.

“Just like when you went to Sichuan last time…”

“Yes, I’ll return safely without causing any trouble.”

“For someone saying that, didn’t you also go and smash the Thunder Dragon last time…?”

“…..”

Ahem.

“By the way, I don’t see my elder sister?”

Gu Huibi, who was beside me earlier, had disappeared.

When I asked, Elder Lee laughed heartily.

“She couldn’t bear to watch, so she’s probably off crying somewhere.”

“What?”

“Since you’re leaving for a long journey, she’s probably heartbroken and hiding behind a tree, crying. Don’t mind her and just go.”

Elder Lee’s words made me laugh in disbelief.

It was a less believable statement than calling that small stone the Fourth Treasure of Mount Hua.

That fiery person crying out of worry? That’s ridiculous.

It would be more believable if she were teasing me for leaving for a long time.

I couldn’t help but imagine Gu Huibi wiping away tears, which made me smile slightly.

It was such an unfitting image.

“Yes, anyway, I’ll be going.”

Since I had to leave, I bowed to Elder Lee and got into the carriage.

“Alright, have a safe trip.”

“Yes, stay healthy.”

Puh-hee-heeng!

As soon as I settled into a half-reclining position, the powerful neigh echoed, and the carriage quickly departed towards Mount Hua.

After Gu Yangcheon left, Elder Lee entered Gu Yangcheon’s quarters and saw something sobbing in the corner.

Sigh-

Elder Lee let out a deep sigh, uncharacteristic of his personality.

“Are you that sad?”

At Elder Lee’s call, the huddled figure flinched.

“Yangcheon isn’t a three-year-old child, why are you crying over this?”

“The child… his body is so frail…! Lately, he’s even skipping meals claiming he’s training…”

The owner of the dejected voice was none other than Gu Huibi.

“If you only fuss over Yangcheon, Yeonseo will feel neglected.”

“Yeonseo takes care of herself, but Yangcheon always causes some trouble wherever he goes.”

I couldn’t refute Gu Huibi’s words.

Wasn’t it said that he broke the arm of Namgung Clan’s heir during the trip to Sichuan?

Honestly, when I heard the details, I thought it would have been better if he’d broken his leg too, but as an elder, I had to hold back those words.

“…I haven’t even seen his face much…”

Elder Lee deliberately averted his gaze from the sniffling Gu Huibi.

…Although Gu Huibi was aging and known as Sword Phoenix, in Elder Lee’s eyes, she still looked like a childish granddaughter.

Elder Lee watched quietly for a moment before quietly leaving and closing the door.

About seven days and nights passed.

Someone walked wearily and knocked on the Gu family’s gate.

---

It was three days before Gu Huibi was scheduled to leave for her mission, and because of that, her mood was quite foul.

It was likely even worse due to the person standing before her.

“Who the hell are you?”

The informal address naturally slipped out.

Regardless of whether the other party was younger or older, it was proper to show respect between prestigious families.

Despite appearing immature, Gu Huibi had absolutely no desire to do so.

The recipient of the harsh words seemed unfazed, merely bowing respectfully.

“I am Namgung Bi-ah.”

Fucking beautiful.

That was Gu Huibi’s first impression of Namgung Bi-ah.

The peculiar attendant my younger brother used to bring around was unbelievably beautiful, but this Namgung girl was no less so.

They said she was the most beautiful in Anhui… she certainly lived up to the name.

Annoyingly so.

“Right, I get that, but why did you come looking for me?”

Though I didn’t know the reason, Namgung Bi-ah’s martial uniform was covered in everything from leaves to various kinds of dust.

Did she come through rough roads?

Or perhaps she had fought monsters for a long time; looking closely, there was even monster blood stained on it.

Namgung Bi-ah answered Gu Huibi’s question firmly.

“I came to see my fiancé.”

“Fiancé…”

It was the correct term, but it grated on my nerves.

“I believe it’s not an official engagement yet.”

“Ah…”

“Is that so? Was it like that?” She seemed to have a vaguely confused expression.

My brother’s fiancée, contrary to her cold appearance, seemed somewhat clueless.

I don’t like it.

However, Gu Huibi had something to say that would please Namgung Bi-ah.

Of course, until a few days ago, it was something she strongly disliked.

Who knew it would be helpful like this.

Hmph.

Gu Huibi said with a nasal tone.

“What a pity? My brother isn’t at the family estate right now.”

“…Brother?”

“Yes, brother. I’m his older sister.”

“…Ah!”

That makes sense…

Namgung Bi-ah nodded as if she understood.

“Hello.”

Then, she demurely bowed her head in greeting.

Gu Huibi was taken aback by this display.

What is this girl even…?

Gu Huibi replied with a reluctant expression.

“…Uh, yeah… Nice to meet you.”

“So… where did he go…?”

“He went to Mount Hua. It’s far, isn’t it? It’s a shame, but maybe you should just return home…”

“Mount Hua…!”

Gu Huibi paused, about to assert her dominance.

It was because Namgung Bi-ah broke into a wide smile the moment she heard where Gu Yangcheon had gone.

It was frustrating to her pride, but the sight was overwhelmingly beautiful.

Namgung Bi-ah, who was about to turn away immediately, hesitated for a moment and then asked Gu Huibi.

It was a very random question.

“Are you a Sword Master?”

“…That’s right. Didn’t you hear from your brother?”

Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head at Gu Huibi’s words.

From my brother? I don’t know.

Cheon Jun doesn’t talk about people stronger than him.

The woman before her was much stronger than Cheon Jun.

Therefore, she probably hadn’t heard properly.

She’s incredibly strong.

I could tell just by looking.

She was likely much stronger than me.

The energy, seemingly about to burst yet flowing naturally, told me so.

It resembled her fiancé’s energy, but was deeper and rougher.

It’s thrilling.

I really wanted to get close to her.

Moreover, a Sword Master?

The woman before her was the type of martial artist Namgung Bi-ah desired most.

She felt like begging to stay by her side for a few days, just to spar once.

However.

“…Unfortunately, not right now.”

“What…?”

“Thank you for the information.”

Namgung Bi-ah bowed her head once more.

“…Uh.. yeah.”

Gu Huibi felt her mind go blank at this reaction.

But she quickly regained her composure and started speaking again, as if firing words.

“I’m telling you again, my brother isn’t at the family estate… so just know that and return… What the?”

She tried hard to get her words out, but amusingly, Namgung Bi-ah, who was right in front of her, had already vanished.

“What the, where did she go…?”

Gu Huibi stood there blankly for a long time, feeling as if she had seen a ghost.

The next day.

She heard that a request had come from the Namgung family asking someone to hold onto Namgung Bi-ah if they saw her, so she couldn’t leave.

But it was already too late.